Iceland has chosen: Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson

Another Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins has come and gone, and some of Iceland’s most popular performers gave it their all tonight on the stage of the Harpa. After seven performances, followed by a two-song Superfinal, we have a winner. Representing Iceland in Malmö this May will be Eyþór Ingi Gunnlaugsson with “Ég á Lif (I Have Life)”, who just beat out Unnur Eggertsdóttir’s “Ég Syng!” for the win.

Born in 1989, Eyþór is an accomplished stage performer, having been seen in productions of “Oliver!”, “Jesus Christ: Superstar”, and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”. That experience serves him well as he presents this anthemic love ballad, written and composed by Örlygur Smári (behind the entries in 2000, 2008, and 2010) and Pétur Örn Guðmundsson (five-time Eurovision backing singer, and a talented singer-songwriter in his own right).

It is unclear whether “Ég á Lif” will be translated into English (as has been the case in recent years), or if it will be the first Icelandic-language song Pál Oskar’s “Minn hinsti dans“, performed way back in 1997. Either way, this subtle, yet dramatic piece may have the potential to be 2013’s answer to last year’s gorgeous “Kuula“. But what’s your opinion?

When I hear this song, I think bitter. Bitter because they had so many great songs in this NF and they picked this boring, Irish rip-off that’s suddenly so exciting because it’s in Icelandic (even though it won’t be in about a month). I can’t wait for this to crash and burn in Malmö come May while I manically laugh with “Lifið Snýst,” “Meðal Andanna,” “Ég Syng!,” “Skuggamynd,” “Ekki Líta Undan,” or any other song playing in the background. Too much information?

I pretty much said all I wanted to except this. For me, this is just going to be one of those songs that I rank really low because it took the place of a far better song(s) from its NF. The same thing is happening with Lithuania (Gerai Gerai & Miss Sheep are my favorite of the entire year so far) this year and it happened with Hungary last year (Gabór Heincz and Learning to Let Go). Iceland might have a chance if they keep it in Icelandic but if (when) it changes into English, they’re totally sunk. It’s 7th on my list with a 47/100 and will not get better. I can’t believe this. My favorite country (ESC and in general) sends two songs in a row that aren’t in my top 20. 😦

P.S. Gréta & Jónsi only get that distinction because 2012 was an absolutely fantastic year.

How the hell did Magni Ásgeirsson not win, or better yet, even get into the super final? Whilst Eyþór’s song isn’t bad Magni’s was definitely the winner. Unnur’s song was just terrible. If Magni had been chosen, he would have made it the final and would have had a very good chance of placing in the top 5.

Personally, I think it’s a really nice song and I like his voice! I don’t think it’s as good as last year’s entry, but it’s the best one I’ve heard so far. I love the lyrics (although, I do have to say that I’m a fan of songs with deep feelings in, and that’s probably why… :P). I just hope they keep it in Icelandic and don’t translate it into English, because it would just lose all it’s beauty. I hate how Eurovision has become Englishvision…